Printing telegraph



Nov. 28, 1933. J, ZE 1,937,376

PRINTING TELEGRAPH Filed July 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l I \II n I INVENTOR WAL TEE J. ZENNEB BY JW W ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1933.

W. J. ZENNER PRINTING TELEGRAPH Filed July 8, 1952 2 s eets-sheet 2 INVENTOR WALT/5E d. ZEN/V56 ATTORNE 'FICE' UNITED STATE rarer lNG Walter J. Zenner, Des Plaines, lllilL, assignor Teletype Corporation, tjhicage, ill, a corpom tion oi Delaware Application duly d, 1932. Serial No. 621,323 35 manna. {or its-st) This invention pertains to selector mechacapable of performing the necessary selecting nisms such as are'employed for controlling teleoperations, and permitting the connection oi the graph. receivers, stool; quotation recorders, reselector electromagnet directly in the line cir-- motecontrol apparatus, and the like. More cuitso that it responds directly to line current '5 particularly the present invention relates to impulses. (Zip-crating in conjunction with the 60 selector mechanisms which comprise selector eleelectromagnet is mechanical means for periodirnents-adapted to be positioned or conditioned cally vibrating the armature of the selector elecindifferent coded combinations in response to tromagnet which means consists of a cam operacode signals including permutations of selecting tive in synchronism with a receiving cam drum conditions extending through a predetermined oi the selector mechanism and arranged to vi- 65 number of time interval brate periodically the armature in timed rela- "The invention is especially adapted for applition with respect to the incoming signals. Con cation to selector mechanis'msin which selector sequentiy, it is only necessary to impress on the elements are mechanically set under the joint win g 0 t to et sliffl t Current control of locally driven means such as a rotate the armature magnetically once it.has 79 ing shaft and a member or members actuated by be ".oved mec a y thereto and to etain electromagnetic means in response to the reits set position pending a subsequent line ceived code combinations of selecting conditions. In such mechanisms the setting of the selectors better understanding Ofthe ve o ay is controlled or determined by the vibratory h 31nd m the following description. taken 75 movement of an armature of an electromagnet w th the accomp y aw w or of a member or members actuated thereby, 1 is a p p t e View Of a selector mechand each setting operation is timed by the local sm 0f t Wo n yp Controlled y means in synchronism with the speed of a neutral magnet, with portions omitted or pulsing. Selector mechanismsof the mechanical broken away reveal the essential Operating type, due to the absence of electrical contacts, inembers'in which the present inventiorris emare very durable and possess many outstanding bodi d. advantages. Satisfactory operation of. such Fig. 2 is an elevational view of parts of the selector mechanisms is obtained particularly in mechanism shown in Fig. l. 1

30 start-stop systems in which the locally actuated Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2. member is stopped at the end of each code com- Fig. 4 is a plan view .of the orientation elebination of selecting conditions and is started ments of the selector shown in Fig. 1. into operation by a starting condition which Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of precedes .the selecting intervals oi code Fig. 4 showing the starting members and dis 35 combination, closing also the features of orientation embodied r The salient object of the present invention is in the D -S n i ventio to provide a very flexible and efficient system of Fig. 6 is a view'similar to Fig. 3 showing the selective control wherein' extreme accuracy in a u le oc devic I timing the operations is not required. Fig. '7 is a fragmental perspective view oi one 40 A feature of the invention is to provide a modification of the present invention in which a selector mechanism comprising a composite polar selecting magnet is employed. armature element which in operation responds Fig. 8 is a fragmental perspective view of anto the received signal impulses, but whose meother modification of the inventionembodying a chanical control of the selector mechanism is solenoid type of selector. 45 independent of the precise or exact timing of Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a dynamic the signal impulses. type of selector magnet. A further feature of the invention is to pro- According to the arrangement disclosed in Fig. vide a selecting mechanism which permits an 1 of the accompanying drawings, the armature of overlap of the impulse intervals, making it unthe selector magnet is operated periodically by a 50 necessary to have a selector arm operated in acpower driven cam; however, the selector arm is curate timed relation to the periodic movement not integrally formed with the armature but is of the armature of the selector magnet. resiliently connected thereto through a spring The accomplishment of the above and other and an adjustable set screw. 1 The armature of objects of the invention are attained by the use the selecting magnet is normally under spring 55 of a selector electromagnet with properties tension, and when it is moved through the me! dium of the cam the selector arm also tends to move therewith by virtue of the spring connection therebetween. If the selector magnet is energized at the time when the armature is thus brought into' close proximity thereto, the armature and the selector arm will be retained in their actuated position. However, if no current is then flowing through the windings of the selector magnet, the armature and the selector arm will be restored through the action of a restoring spring to the spacing or unactuated position. In effect though, when the selector arm is in the marking or actuated position, the armature of the selector magnet, due to the momentary mechanical locking of the selector arm, will be retained against the action of its restoring spring in an actuated position. However, when the selector arm is re? leased, the armature as well as the selector arm will be returned to the spacing position. Thus, by the resilient interconnection between the armature and the selector arm, as set forth in the present disclosure, the mechanism is arranged with an overlap, precluding the necessity of having the selector arm operated in accurate timed relation to the periodic movement of the armature of the selector magnet.

With this brief introduction, the nature of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Having reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the details of the selector mechanism disclosed are shown only in sufiicient detail to enable an understanding of the present invention. For a complete understanding of details not disclosed herein and which form no part of the'present invention, reference may be had to Patent No. 1,745,633, issued February 4, 1930, to Sterling Morton et al. This mechanism comprises a set of six selector elements in the form of thin, flat fingers 11 arranged in superposed relation between guide plates 12. These plates are mounted on studs 13 and spaced by washers (not shown). The circular rear ends 14 of the fingers 11 engage corresponding sockets 15 in six thin, flat bellcranks 16 pivoted on a common shaft 17. Individual springs 18 normally hold the bellcranks and selector fingers in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with the pointed rear end 19 (Fig.3) of the bellcranks 16 in contact with a cam barrel 21 on shaft 22 which is driven continuously by a properly regulated motor, the driving connection between the shaft 22 and the cam barrel 21 being establishedthrough friction clutches 23 and 24 (Fig. 2).

The cam barrel 21 (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided with a helically arranged series of cams 25, one for each of the bellcranks 16, which rotate the bellcranks 16 (six in the present instance) in succession and thus reciprocate longitudinally the succession of selector fingers 11 as the cam barrel is rotated. In addition to the longitudinal movement the selector fingers 11 have a lateral swinging movement between the pair of studs 26.

The setting of any selector finger 11 either to its right hand or to its left hand position is determined by the electromagnet 27 which is mounted adjustably in the apparatus. The magnet armature 29 is fixed to a flutter lever 31 which is pivoted on a shaft 32 fixed in the frame of the apparatus. Mounted on a pivot shaft 33 adjustably positioned and adjacent to and in cooperative relation with the fiutter lever 31 is a selector arm or lever 34. Lever 34 terminates in a U-shaped portion 35, having downward extending arms 36 which constitute abutments which cooperate with arms 37 on the rear ends of the selector fingers 11 and act to position the latter in either a right hand or a left hand position. The several fingers 11 act through a corresponding number of T-shaped levers 38, a1 ranged between the guide plates 12. and pivotally mounted on a stud 41, to position a set of notched permutation members 39, such that an alignmentof notches, for example, will permit a pull-bar 40 to drop therein in well known man ner, which, for instance with type lever apparatus, engages a printing bail to bring the corresponding type lever into operation. The springs 18 associated with bellcranks 16 normally hold the selector fingers 11 in their forward rposition and in engagement with the T-levers 38, and each permutation member 39 thus is held in either one or the other of its two positions according to the position of the associated selector finger 11.

As the signal impulses are received the line electromagnet 27, which as shown is connected directly in the line, responds to only one of the two different electrical conditions comprising the signals and seizes its armature 29 when a marking impulse is received and releases it again when a spacing signal is received, while the selector fingers 11 are reciprocated successively in 'synchronism with the signals by the cams 25 of the spiral series on the cam barrel 21. The arms 37 are thereby brought into cooperative relation with the abutments36 at the corresponding signal intervals, thereupon setting the selector fine gers 11 in variant combinations. In practical operation, however, in order to insure the alignment of abutments 36 and arms 37 in their respective cooperative positions, limiting stops may be provided for member 34 analogous to the stops 26 provided for fingers 11. Such a stop member 20 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and is provided with a pair of stop portions 30 adapted to cooperate with abutments 36.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, a considerable amount of movement is required to shift the arms 36 of selector lever 34 from one operating position to the other and this places a considerable burden of work on the magnet 27. Where the armature 29 operates by a sole source of power; namely, electromagnet 27, an electrical current of substantial strength will be required to produce the necessary movement of the armature, whereas any mechanical assistance given to the armature 29 would reduce the work required of the electromagnet 27 and thereby reduce the current required to produce the effect of selection. This problem is met in the present invention by providing a' multiple cam or star wheel 42 secured to the cam barrel 21 which cooperates with a follower 43 integral with the flutter lever 31. A spring 44 secured to one extremity of the flutter lever 31 tends to urge follower 43 into cooperation with the cam 42. The electromagnet 27 (Fig. 1) during the normal operation of the apparatus remains energized and, hence, armature 29 is normally attracted, and follower 43 thus is held out of cooperative relation with cam 42 against the action of spring 44. Cams 25 are six in number, one for each signal, and the cam portions of the cam 42 are seven in number, one for each signal of the intelligence code, and one for the stop signal. When the cam barrel 21 rotates, the coaction of the cam portions of cam 42 with the follower 43 effects the oscillation of the armature 29 through the instrumentality of flutter lever 31 and thus moves the armature 29 by mechanical power into its operative position near or against the electromagnet 27 in timed relation with the speed of code pulsing.

As shown in Fig. 1, the selector lever 34 is not integrally formed with the flutter lever 31 and armature 39, but is operably connected therewith through a spring 45 and an adjustable set screw 46 carried on an extension 47 of the flutter lever 31. The levers 31 and 34 being so connected are enabled to move as a unit, the spring 45 functioning normally to hold lever 34 against the stop screw 46. However, lever 31 is free to respond to the camming action of cam 42 despite lever 34 if lever 34 should, as will hereinafter appear, be restrained momentarily by locking lever 71 (Fig. 6), whereupon spring 45 will be distended, and as soon as the restraint upon lever .on an adjusting plate 56.

34 has been removed it will instantly be drawn against the stop 46 by a spring 45. The purpose of this flexible connection of flutter lever 31 and selector lever 34 is to compensate for the difference in operation between the accurately timed operation of flutter lever 31 and the slower mechanical operation of selector lever 34 by providing an intervallic overlap; that is, an overlap of the signal intervals of a code. and the mechanical operations pursuant thereto, whereby a preceding code impulse causes the operation of signal storing devices which continue action after the termination of the preceding signal interval and which extend action into the succeeding contiguous signal interval.

When the flutter lever 31 is actuated by one of the cam portions oncam 42 to bring armature 29 into proximity with electromagnet 2'7, and if at that instant electromagnet 27 is energized by a selecting impulse, lever 31 will be held in this actuated position during the time interval of the signal impulse. This movement of flutter le- ,ver 31- is eventually imparted through spring to selector lever 34 which movement will bring right hand abutment 36 into alignment with right hand arm 37. However, due to the intervallic overlap, selector lever 34 is held by a looking member 71 (Fig. 6) in its left hand position against the action of spring 45 to insure the eifectuation of the selecting operation; and flutter lever 31, due to the resilient connection afforded by spring 45 is permitted to operate in accurate timed relation to the speed of code impulsing and to respond to the next impulse despite the mechanical restraint imposed upon lever 34. Thus, when a substantial portion of the time interval of said next impulse has transpired, the

. locking restraint imposed by locking member 71 will be removed and lever 34 will respond in-, stantaneously to the action of spring 45. This overlap is, therefore, conducive to eflicient operation and is accordingly highly desirable.

The dam barrel 21 is driven, as previously noted,

' from the shaft 22 through the medium of fricthe lug 51 of the lower arm of a U-shaped stop gate 52 (Fig. 4). Gate 52 is mounted upon a pivot stud 53, and its upper arm is. adapted to be engaged by a latch 54. The latch 54 is pivoted on a journal block 55 (Fig. 5), and this journal block and the pivot stud 53 are both mounted The adjusting plate may be rotated about the pivot stud 57 by cans of an arm 58 having'an operating knob 59 and maybe clamped, byany well known means, to an orientation plate 61 which is rigidly fixed to the frame of the selector.

A spring 62 extending from the gate 52 to the frame of the selector tends to rotate the gate clockwise as viewed in'Fig. 4. The stop arm 49 tends to rotate the gate 52 in a reverse direction,

but the latch 54 restrains the gate against actuation by the stop arm 49. The pivot stud 57 and the inner end of the latch 54 are in alignment with the axis of the shaft 22. Aspring 63 com-. pressed between the 'latch 54 and the adjusting plate 56 normally holds the outer end of the latch in position to engage the upper .arm of the gate 52. A trip member in the form of a small bellcrank 64 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 65 secured to the fixed plate 61 so that its inner arm may engage one arm of the latch 54 at a point coincident with the coaxial alignment of the shaft 22 and the pivot stud 57. A plunger 66 extends through block 65 and is adapted to engage the bellcrank 64 and to be engaged by the head of an adjustable set screw 67 on an extension 68 of the flutter lever 31.

A description of the operation of the mechanisms shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, will now be given. As previously mentioned, the normal stop condition of the line is marking, and hence the line magnet 27 is normally energized. During the first line impulse or start interval which is of spacing nature, the electromagnet 27 is deenergized and the movement of the armature lever 29 which will be effected by the spring 44 will cause the set screw6'7 to shift the plunger 66 and rock. the bellcrank 64. The inner end of the bellcrank 64 (Fig. 5) engages the inner end of the latch 54 which when rocked by the bellcrank, against the action of spring'63, becomes disengaged from the gate 52 which is thereupon rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 against the action of spring 62 by the pressure of the arm 49 against the arm 51. The cycle of operation of the cam barrel 21 thus is initiated, and as soon as the stop arm 49 passes the end of arm 51 of the gate 52, the gate will be rotated clockwise by its spring 62 whereupon latch 54 will again become engaged with stop gate 52.

During the/signal code interval, the latch 54 will be vibrated without effect by the several re ceived signal impulses comprising the code com bination, but the stop impulse of marking nature which always terminates the cycle will withdraw the set screw head 67 from the plunger 64 and will permit the spring 63 to operate the latch 54 and bellcrank 64, the latch 54 thus being left free to take its normal position to engage the upper arm of the gate 52. The stop arm 49 upon the completion of its revolution then will engage the arm 51 of the gate 52 and will rotate the gate against its spring 62 until the gate engages the latch 54 which will stop both the gate 52 and the stop arm 49, thereby stopping the cam barrel 21 to which the stop arm 49 is attached. The f} parts are so constructed that the cam barrel 21 is stopped positively by the gate 52 at the end of each cycle and is readily released in response to the start impulse by the movement of the armature lever 29. ment permits the orientation adjustment of the gate 52 so that the engagement of the multiple cam 42 and its follower 43 and the consequent en- Also, the tripping arrange- L.

gag'ement of the first cam 25 of the cam barrel 21 H and its cooperating bellcrank 16 will occur during the most favorable portion of each impulse interval of the received selective code.

The cycle being thus started with proper orientation, the first cam projection on the multiple cam 42 engages the cam follower 43 on the flutter lever 31 to rock said lever counterclockwise,'th us moving the armature 29 against or in close proximity to the electromagnet 2'7; thereafter the cam projection passes the follower 43 and releases the lever 31. But, should the line condition be of marking nature; that is, if marking current is impressed on the line, the electromagnet 2'7 will be energized at the time a tooth or cam 42 leavesthe follower 43 and in consequence thereof the armature 29 will be seized by the electromagnet 27. In this connection it is to be noted that even though the electromagnet be energized by the line current to a degree insufficient to attract the armature and its associated flutter lever from the position against the cam 42, nevertheless, due to the assistance rendered to the armature and its associated parts by the cam 42, the equivalent efiect is obtained. In other words, the armature being thus mechanically assisted to its attracted position will be there held by the electromagnet 2'7 even though the electromagnet be energized to a degree which would have been insufficient to attract the armature initially from its released position. When the signal impulse is of spacing nature the electromagnet will not be energized and, of course, the armature will in that case merely be oscillated by the cam 42 into close proximity to the magnet and returned immediately by the action of spring 44.

v Assuming that the first impulse after the starting impulse is of marking nature, the armature and associated flutter lever will be held in their counterclockwise positions and the selector lever 34 being free to move is correspondingly actuated through its flexible connection with flutter lever 31. While the selector lever 34 is in this position a locking lever '71 (Fig. 6) operates to lock it in such position until the first cam 25 has actuated its associated bell crank 16 to move the first selector fingerll to its marking or left-hand position, which when subsequently actuated by its associated spring 18 through bellcrank 16 rocks its associated T-lever 38 to reciprocate code bar 39.

Had the first impulse condition after start-- ing been of a spacing nature the armature 29 and flutter lever 31 would not have been held by the electromagnet 27, but instead the lever 31 would have assumed the position with cam follower 43 in engagement with the cam 42. In its angular arrangement the cam 25 follows the corresponding projection on the cam 42 by a very brief interval, yet of sufilcient duration to permit the spring 44 to rock the flutter lever 31 to its spacing position; that is, against the cam 42. Accordingly, if the first impulse condition had been of spacing nature, the spring 44 would have rocked the flutter lever 31 to its spacing position against the cam 42 as soon as the tooth of the cam 42 had released the lever 31, and then the first cam 25 would have rocked the first bellcrank 16 to move the first selector finger 11 to its spacing or right-hand position. Just prior to the reception of the succeeding signal impulse the next cam projection on cam 42 will oscillate lever 31 to again bring armature 29 into close" proximity to electromagnet 2'7 and in the event this impulse is of marking nature the armature will be held in its attracted position to effect a result similar to that described in connection with the first impulse. Also, should this impulse be of spacing nature instead, the same effect as that described in connection with a first impulse of spacing nature will be had.

The operation of the apparatus pursuant to the reception of each of the succeeding impulses, including'the stop impulse condition of marking nature, is similar to that just described. The cam 42 is provided with. six operating projections to operate flutter lever 31 in accordance with the six selecting impulse conditions and is provided further with a seventh projection for operating the flutter lever 31 preparatory to the receipt of the stop impulse which is always of marking nature, in which event the armature will be urged into close proximity to the selector magnet 27 and there held by the magnet until a starting (spacing) impulse is received.

Normally, to provide a wide margin of operation, the setting of the selector fingers-ll should be selected or determined at definite points or very brief intervals uniformly spaced throughout the selecting cycle, so that such points may register with the mid-portions of the intervals of the received signals or code combinations. It is difficult, however, to so construct the parts of a mechanical selector as to effect such an operation and particularly where, .as is highly desirable in order to permit rapid operation, the parts are of light weight construction and the vibratory movement of the armature lever is slight. Therefore, to insure a wide margin of operation, a means, as shown in Fig. 6, is employed for intermittently locking the vibrating selector lever 34 in one or the other of its selecting posi tions, such locking occurring at definitely spaced points or instants in the selecting cycle, which points are slightly in advance of the time intervals or portions of the cycle during which the setting of the selector fingers 11 is effected.

The locking device, shown in Fig. 6, comprises an arm or lever '71 pivoted on the shaft 1'7 and arranged between the two uppermost guide plates 12. The locking lever '71 is provided with a nose or shoulder '72, and a spring '73 connected to the arm holds the nose '72 in engagement with the periphery of a cam '74 which forms a part of and rotates with the cam barrel 21 and which cam, as indicated in Fig. 6, is set angularly relative to cam 42 to efiect the proper-timed operation of arm '71 and flutter lever 31. Cam '74 is provided with a series of cam projections or shoulders, six in number which successively vibrate the arm '71 during each operating cycle which, as has been seen, corresponds to one complete rotation of cam barrel 21. The end of the arm '71 is also provided with a beveled locking dog or knife-edge '76 which cooperates with a knife-edge '77 fixed to the extremity of selector lever 34. Whenever the nose '72 of the locking arm coacts with the high portions of cam '74, the knifeedge '76 is held thereby slightly out of the path of movement of the cooperating knife-edge '77 of the selector lever 34, but when the nose '72 passes over the radial shoulders of said portions the knife-edge '76 will engage knife-edge '7'7 and hold theselector lever 34 in either its right-hand or left-hand position.

The number of cam projections on the cam '74 corresponds to the number of selecting intervals of each code combination and they are so spaced angularly that one of the projections embraces approximately two-sevenths and each of the noses-re other projections embrace approximately oneseventh of the circumference of the cam, representative of the six selecting intervals and the stop interval. Also, the cam projections on cam we are so spaced angularly with respect to cams 25 such that the locking arm 71 is quickly shifted into engagement with the selector lever 3 lby the spring 73 at definite instants in each. revolution or setting cycle of the cam member 21, and which instants are so chosen that the armature lever so is locked in one or the other of its positions just before any engagement of the arms 3? with the abutments 36 occurs, so that the setting of the respective selector fingers 11 is definitely determined at such points or brief intervals. Furthermore, the projections on the cam 74 are so arranged that the selector lever 34 is held against vibration while the arms 37 of the selecting gers ll are in engagement with the abutments 36, and inthis way the selector lever is se curely held against vibration during any of the changes in the setting of the selector ll.

Due to the flexible connection between. the selector lever 34 and the flutter lever El, the accurately timed vibrations of lever 31 can proceed uninterruptedly despite the shifting the selector lever 34 from one position to the other; that is, since the selector lever so is locked at its selective position during each impulse interval hy the locking lever ll it is obvious that core time can be allotted or added to the transfer operation of the selection from the selector levers fi l to the selector fingers ll, because owing to the action of springs. as and 45 on the lnter connected members 31 and 34 the shifting of as can occur instantaneously upon ts release by locking lever ll through the gagernent or" knife-edges l6 and '37. T us, an overlap is provided whereby the shifting oi lever Bl in correspondence with the natu. the received impulse may occur while the sol ctor lever 34 is still locked to effect the LOISCGCLln? selecting operation. Due to the intervallic over= lap thus provided, wherein the locking lever ll permits the shifting of flutter lever 3i independentiy of selector lever 34, it is possible to the frontal slope; that is, the slope on the ad vancing side, of each of the cam projections on 42 very gradual indicated in Figs. 1 6) instead of precipitouaas is necessary when. no flutter lever 31 is employed (as shown U. S. Patent No. lflddtt), since when no nutter lever is used it is necessary to efiect the shift of selector lever 34 irom one position to the other almost instantaneously to coincide substantially with the speed of code impulsing. Forming the cam projections on cam 42 with gradual slopes abrupt or steep cam projections.

according to the present disclosure smoothness of operation at high speeds is attained hy ellminoting the shocks consequent upon the use of The use of gradual slopes is made possible by the resilient interconnection between selector lever to and flutter lever 31 andthe locking engagement between locking lever 71 and selector lever 34, by reason of which a greater portion of each signal interval may be devoted to shifting the flutter lever 31 with resulting reduction in the strains and stresses on the mechanical elements. A further advantage accruing from these gradual slopes resides in the possibility of providing an apical dwell on the cam projections by means of which the armature can be maintained in its attracted position fora longer period of time to insure its response to a momentary or impulsive the present invention is highly desirable.

energization of the electromagnet. Moreover, the lengths of the slope and apical dwell can. be balanced or propor ioned. to produce the most satisfactory and efficient results, whereas result cannot be attained in. the absence of a locking means such as shown in Fig. 6,

Prior selecting devices have provided for the overlap of entire code combinations through the instrumentality of transfer devices, but hereto fore apparently no attempt has beeii made to provide an inteivallic overlap. hi selector nieche anisms where it is not feasible to employ elabo rate transfer devices, the: overlap provided by Fur thermore, the overlap herein provided not only obviates the necessity for such transfer devices,

which are necessarily of heavier and more I 'gedconstruction, but also permits oi simple and construction and the elimination of excessive parts which is conducive to high. speed operation.

The relation between the shaft 22 the pivot 32 for the fluter lever is fixed, but owing to the adjustment allowed between selector lever and the selector fingers 11 the pivot is mounted in an adjustable bracket (not shown), i which arrangement provides for still grcater flexibility of the selecting mechanism or the present invention.

From the foregoing description it is manifest that by the employment of the selector mechaj nism of the assisted armature type of the pres ent invention, very small current strengths are sunicient to operate the electromagnet, thus per-- mitting the selector magnet to be introduced directly into the line circuit instead of being cluded in supplementary secondary or local circuit controlled by or through a highly sens-iv tive line relay. Since the line circuit under normal operating conditions is energized the selector magnets '21 the sev al views are shown op erated, and this is known as the condition oi line.

7, c and 9 illustrate modified applications of the present invention, in which the details are normal. stop substantially the same as indicated in 1 ercept for the type or form oi the selector magnets and a corresponding alteration in the form of the selector levers. In .1 g. 7 a selector magnet '78 or the polarized type co 'iected directly in the circuit is employed which operates its armature 79 into its solid-line position in response to a sig= nal impulse of nature and into its dotted-line position in response to a signal in o pulse of spacing nature. Flutter lever 31 is not in. the present instance provided with an comature extension analogous to armature 29 in Fig. l, but instead is provided with an extension 82 adapted to engage the laterally disposed end of armature '79. Flutter lever 81 normally tends to rotate in a clockwise direction due to the action 1 In operation, assuming that the cam barrel 21 and cam 42 have been started upon the receipt of a start impulse to operate armature '79 to its dotted-line position to in turn actuate plunger 66 in the manner hereinbefore described, a tooth on the cam 42 engages the follower 43 on the lever 81 immediately prior to the receipt of the first selecting impulse and rocks the lever 81 counterclockwise about its pivot 32 against the action of spring 83 to an extent sufiicient to permit the armature 79 of the magnet 78 to return to its marking or solid-line position. If the impulse condition being received for the first selecting operation is of marking nature, the magnet 78 will move its armature 79 to its marking position (shown in solid lines) and when the tooth on cam 42 moves out of engagement with the follower 43 of the lever 81 and the spring 83 rocks the lever 81 clockwise until the extension 82 engages the end of the armature 79, in which event the parts occupy the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 7. The armature '79 holds the lever 81 in this position while the first cam 25 of the cam barrel 21 operates the first bellcrank 16 to move the selecting finger 11 to its marking position. Thereafter the next tooth on the cam 42 comes into engagement with the follower 43 of the lever 81, and rocks the lever 81 counterclockwise about its pivot 32 out of,contactual engagement with armature '79, leaving the armature '79 of the magnet '78 free to move in response to the succeeding signal impulse. Should a spacing impulse be received at this time, the magnet '18 will move its armature into its spacing position (shown in dotted lines) and when the tooth on the cam 42 moves out of engagement with the follower 43 on the lever 81,.the spring 83 will rock the lever 81 clockwise about its pivot 32 until the cam follower 43 comes into engagement with the cam 42. The selector lever 34 now oc cupies its spacing position so that when the sec-- ond cam 25 of the cam barrel 21 rocks the second bellcrank 16 the second selector finger 11 will be moved to its spacing position. The operation of the mechanism in response to each of the succeeding impulses, including the stop impulse, is similar to that just described.

In the modification of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 8, the flutter lever 85 is of the same design as lever 31 shown in Fig. 1, except that an extension 86 has been substituted for the armature extension 29 and a solenoid 87 has been substituted for the neutral magnet 27. Similar to magnets 27 and 78, the solenoid is connected directly in the line circuit and as is apparent from the foregoing description thesolenoid is normally energized and hence the plunger 88 thereof is in its uppermost position as shown, which position is maintained during the energization of the solenoid against the action of a spring 89 attached to an adjusting screw 91 suitably mounted in bracket 92 integral with the selector frame. Plunger 88 is provided integrally with a vertically extending tongue portion 99 of non-magnetic material which functions to block extension 86, as will presently appear. The flutter lever 85 as it is operated by the flutter cam 42 actuates its extension 86 between the solid-line and dottedline positions shown in Fig. 8 unless extension 86 is blocked by the upper extremity of the tongue portionwhen the solenoid is energized. I

Upon the receipt of a start impulse, which is of spacing nature, the solenoid 87 is deenergized, allowing the spring 89 to withdraw plunger 88, and hence tongue 90, from blocking engagement with extension 86 to permit flutter lever 85 to rotate clockwise about its pivot 32 under the action of spring 44 to effect through plunger 66 the release of cam barrel 21 for rotation as previously described. Flutter lever .85 thus is caused to vibrate by means of flutter cam 42 in accurate timed relation with the signal impulses unless the extension 86.thereof is blocked by the tongue 90, in

which. event the flutter lever 85 will be held against rotation during that particular signal impulse interval; that is, if the first selecting impulse is of marking nature the plunger 88 will assumeits uppermost position due to the energization of solenoid 87 to hold, through tongue 90 and extension 86, flutter lever 85 in its counterclockwise position, which lever has been moved thereto by the first cam projection on the cam 42. Assuming that the second impulse is of spacing nature the flutter lever 85 will have been first moved to its counterclockwise position by the second cam projection on the cam 42, but since the plunger 88 is held in its downward position by spring 89 due to the unenergized condition of solenoid 87, the flutter lever will be returned to its dotted-line position by spring 44 in a manner analogous to the action described in connection with Figs, 1 and '7. The selector lever 34 will respond to the movement of the flutter lever 85 through the flexible interconnection therewith in a manner as previously set forth. The succeeding impulses of the code signal will control the selector mechanism in a similar manner.

A further modification of the present invention contemplates the substitution of a dynamic type selector magnet 93, such as shown in Fig. 9, for the plunger type magnet 8'7, shown in Fig. 8. Briefly, the dynamic type magnet 93 comprises a pair of field coils wound around a pair of cores 94 and 95 to which are secured yoke pieces 96 and 97. Adapted to fit over the core 95 is an armature member 98 of cup form which carries the operating winding or coil 99. The function of magnet 93 is to provide a strong magnetic field for cooperation with the magnetism produced by winding 99 to cause the armature 98 to fluctuate in response to received signal impulses. The dynamic type magnet 93 is, like selector magnet 78.

also adapted for polar operation; that is, for use on a line circuit employing positive and negative signal impulses. Since in normal operation the signal line is impressed with marking current the armature 98 will assume its vertical position such that projection 101 operates to block extension 86 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the plunger or solenoid type of magnet 87.

In none of the embodiments disclosed herein is a line relay necessary, as the purpose of the assisted armature type of selector mechanism is to permit of operation on very low operating current, in which case the selector mechanisms are operated directly from the line current and not indirectly from local current through line reays.

It is, of course, understood that this invention is capable of embodiment in many other forms than that specifically disclosed without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an electromagnet, an armature member for said electromagnet, cyclically operable means for oscillating said member to and from said electromagnet in timed sequence, an element resiliently connected to said member, and locking means for said element operative independently of said means whereby selective operations are performed irrespective of the timed control of said member.

2. In combination, a selector mechanism, power driven means for operating said selector mecheavers anism, an electromagnet, a mechanical element controlled by said electromagnet in accordance with code combinations of impulse conditions for controlling said selector mechanism,*said mechanical element having two operative positions, means constantly urging said mechanical element into one of its operative positions, additional power driven means for periodically moving said mechanical element into the other of its posi tions, a member connected to said element, and locking means for said member operative independently of said means whereby selective operations are performed irrespective of the timed control of said member.

3. In a selector mechanism, a plurality Of selector elements, power driven means for operating said selector elements successively, a single element cooperating with all of said selector ele ments for determining the selective operation thereof, a power driven cam, means responsive to electrical conditions, and an element dually con trolled by said cam and said last mentioned means for controlling said single element.

4. In combination, a selector mechanism, power driven means for operating said selector mechanism, a single element acting to determine the selective operation of said mechanism, an electromagnet, a cam, and a mechanical element dually controlled by said electromagnet and said cam in accordance with code combinations impulse conditions for controlling said single element.

5. In combination, a selector mechanism, an electromagnet, a power driven earn, a first element dually controlled by said electromagnet said cam, a second element resiliently connected to said first element, a series of elements operated successively, all said elements being operated cooperatively to determine the selective operation of said selector mechanism, and inea'" to permit the operation of said first element dependently of the operation of said second lement to provide an overlap in the selective operation of said elements.

6. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of se-- lector elements, power driven means for operat ing said elements successively, a single element cooperating with all of said selector elements for determining the selective operation thereof, an electromagnet responsive to received electrical impulse conditions, a mechanical element, and a second power driven means operating in timed relation with respect to the impulse intervals whereby said mechanical element is adapted to be dually controlled by said electromagnet and said second means for periodically operating said sin= gle element.

7. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of se lector fingers, cam means for operating said fingers successively, an element for controlling the selective operation of said fingers, an electromagnet responsive to received electrical indpulse conditions,,a flutter lever, a cam operating in timed relation with respect to the-impulse intervals, said flutter lever adapted to be dually controlled by said electromagnet and said last mentioned cam for periodically operating said element, and means intermittently operable to retain said element in a selected position to increase the latitude of each selective operation said cyclically operable member and said means, and means to render said second member responsive to said first member.

9. In a telegraph mechanism, a cyclically operable member, means responsive to electrical conditions, a first member, a second member, said first member adapted to be dually controlled by said cyclically operable member and said means, means to render said second member responsive to said first member, and means to delay said eleotrotnagnet responsive to current impulses, a

power driven armature-assisting means, means to render said element responsive to said assisting means, and means to delay said response ell-- iectuate said selective operation.

12. In combination, a selector mechanism, a power driven means for operating said i echanism, an electromagnet comprising a flooing armature, a mechanical element adapted to be controlled by said electromagnet in accordance with code combinations of marking and spacing impulse conditions for controlling said selector mechanism, said element having two positio rest, means constantly urging said eleme one of its rest positions, power driven operating in timed relation with respect o the impulse intervals to the movement of said element into other of its rest positions, armature acting in response to the character of the received impulseto determine the positionment f said element.

13. in combination, selector mechanic? a power driven means for operating said chanism, a solenoid responsive to code combinations of marking and spacing impulse condi ticns, mechanical element adapted to be com trolled by said solenoid in accordance with o id into one oi its positions, and power driven means operating in timed relation with respect to the impulse intervals to effect the movement of said element to theother of its positions, said solenoid acting in response to the character of the lin pulse condition to determine the positionment of said element.

14. In combination, an electromagnet responsive to received electrical impulse conditions, cyclically operable means operating in timed re lation to the impulse intervals, means dually controlled by said electromagnet and said means, means resiliently connected to said latter means to control selective operations, and means adapted to cooperate with said resilient means to effect an intervallic overlap of the selective operations.

15. ina selector mechanism, a plurality oi selector elements, power driven means for operating said elements successively, an adjustable element adapted to cooperate with all of said elements to determine the selective operation thereof, a power driven cam, an electromagnet.

and a mechanical element dually controlled by said cam and said electromagnet in accordance with code combinations of impulse conditions for controlling said adjustable element.

16. In combination, a selector mechanism, a power driven means for operating said mechanism, an electromagnet responsive to code combinations of marking and spacing impulse conditions, means operating in timed relation with respect to the impulse intervals, a mechanical element dually controlled by said electromagnet and said latter means, an adjustable element resiliently connected to said element to control selective operations, and means to insure the efiectuation of said selective operations.

17. In combination, a selector mechanism, a power driven means for operating said mechanism, an electromagnet responsive to code combinations of marking and spacing impulse conditions, a two-position element adapted to be controlled by said electromagnet in accordance witlrsaid conditions, biasing means normally tending to establish-said element in one position,

power driven .means operative synchronously with the speed of code impulsing to establish said element periodically in the other position, means resiliently connected to said element to control selective operations, and means to insure the effectuation of said selective operations.

18. In combination, a selector mechanism, a power driven means for operating said mechanism, a polarized electromagnet responsive to code combinations of marking and spacing impulse conditions, an armature for said electromagnet, the position of said armature determined solely by the nature of the impulse condition, an element adapted to be controlled by said armature in accordance with said conditions, power driven means operative synchronously with the speed of code pulsing to establish said element periodically in one position to escape said-armature, biasing means to determine the coactivity of said element and said armature, means resiliently connected to said element to control selective operations, and means to insure the efiectuation of said selective operations.

19. In a selector, an electromagnet subject to marking and spacing impulse. conditions, an armature for said electromagnet, means constantly urging said armature away from said electromagnet, power driven means for periodically moving said armature into close proximity with respect to said electromagnet, means resiliently connected to said first mentioned means and controlled thereby to effectuate selective operations,

and means for synchronizing the movements of said armature with the impulse intervals.

20, In a selecting apparatus, the combination of a group of selectors, an electromagnet responsive to code combinations of signal impulses, an armature for said electromagnet actuated in accordance with the signal impulses, means operated synchronously with the speed of code impulsing adapted to coact with said armature, means resiliently associated with said means and re sponsive thereto, and meansoperatively associated with both said means and adapted to effect controlling operations in said selectors.

21. In combination, a selector mechanism, a power driven means for operating said mechanism, a first lever for controlling the operation of said selector mechanism, an electromagnet responsive to received electrical impulse conditions, an armature for said electromagnet carried by said lever, a second lever resiliently connected and responsive to said first lever, spring means for constantly urging said armature away from said electromagnet, means for periodically rocking said lever to move said armature into close proximity to said electromagnet, and means to stay the response of said second lever to insure the effectuation of a selective operation.

22. In combination, a selector mechanism, power driven means for operating said mechanism, a magnet, an armature for said magnet, means for moving said armature toward said magnet in timed sequence, means resiliently associated with said means and responsive thereto, and means to stay the response of said latter means to insure the effectuation of a selective operation.

23. In a selecting apparatus, the combination of a group of selectors, a magnet, an armature for said magnet, means for moving said armature toward said magnet in timed sequence, means resiliently associated with said means and responsive thereto, and means operatively associated with both said means and adapted to eflect controlling operations in said selectors.

24. In a selecting apparatus, the combination of a group of selectors, a magnet, an armature for said magnet, means for moving said armature toward said magnet in timed sequence, means resiliently associated with said means and responsive thereto, means to retard the response of said latter means, and means operatively associated with all of said means and adapted to effect controlling operations in said selectors.

25. In a telegraph mechanism, the combination of a magnet, an armature for said magnet, means for moving said armature toward said magnet in timed sequence, means resiliently associated with said means and responsive thereto, and means to retard the response of said latter means.

26. A selector mechanism for printing telegraph receivers comprising a selector magnet responsive to signal current impulses, an armature for said selector magnet, mechanical means for periodically moving said armature into close proximity with respect to the selector magnet, a

selector element, and resilient means connecting said armature with said element whereby said element is selectively positioned.

.27. In a selector, an electromagnet subject to marking and spacing impulse conditions, an armature for said electromagnet, means constantly urging said armature away from said electromagnet, power driven means for periodically moving said armature into close proximity with respect to said electromagnet, means for synchronizing the movements of said armature with the impulse intervals, means resiliently connected to said armature and controlled thereby to effectuate selective operations, and means coactive with said resiliently connected means to insure the eifectuation of said selective operations.

28. In a selector mechanism, a cyclically operable member comprising a series of cam elements, means responsive to electrical conditions,

a first member, a second member, said first member adapted to be dually controlled by said cyclically operable member and said means, means to render said second member responsive to said first member, and means to delay said response whereby the contour of said cam elements may be predetermined to balance the ad? vance and dwell periods of said armature to insure the coaction of said armature with said first recited means.

' trolled by local power to allow said element to 29. In a telegraph mechanism, an electromagnet responsive to'signal impulses, means operable cyclically in timed relation to the impulse intervals, means dually controlled by said electromagnet and said means to control certain operations, means yieldably connected to said latter means to control other operations, and means adapted to cooperate with said yieldable means to eiIect an intervallic overlap of said operations.

30. In combination, a pivoted element acting to determine'one or the other of two selective conditions, an electromagnet and armature responsive to one or the other of two signaling conditions corresponding respectively to said two.

selective conditions, a yielding connection between said pivoted element and said armature, and a lever controlled by local power to allow said pivoted element to determine the time of beginning of said one or the other of two selective conditions.

31. In combination, an element acting to determine one or the other of two selective conditions, an electromagnet and armature responsive to one or the.other'of two signaling conditions, a spring connection'between said element and said armature, and means driven by local power for determining the time of beginning 01 said one or the other of two selective conditions throughfthe operationoi said element.

32. In combination, an element operable to produce one or the other of two selective conditions, an electromagnet and armature responsive to one or the other of two signaling conditions corresponding respectively to said two selective conditions, a yielding connection between .laid element and said armature, and means condetermine the time of beginning of said one or the other of two selective conditions.

33. In combination, an element operable to produce one or the other of two selective conditions, an electromagnet and armature responsive to one or the other of two signaling conditions corresponding respectively to said two selective conditions, a yielding connection between said element and said armature, and means controlled by local power for controlling said element to determine the time of beginning of said one or the other of two selective conditions.

34. In combination, an element operable to produce one orthe other of two selective conditions, an electromagnet and armature responsive to one or the other of two signaling conditions corresponding respectively to said two selective conditions, a yielding connection between said element and said armature, and means synchronized to said signaling conditions by said armature and operated by local power to control said element to determine the time of beginning of said one or the other of two selective conditions.

35. In combination, an element acting to determine one or the other of two selective conditions, an electromagnet and armature responsive to one or the other of two signaling conditions, a power driven cam operative to assist said armature periodically to one of its two selective positions, a spring connection between said element and said armature, and means driven by local power for determining the time ofbeginning of said one or the other of two selective conditions through the operation of said element.

- WALTER J. ZENNER. 

